Chiang
Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand is about 785 kilometers
north of Bangkok. Situated on the
Kok River basin, Chiang Rai covers an area of approximately
11,678 square meters with an average elevation of 580 meters
above sea level. The province, which is located within the
renowned
Golden Triangle area where
Myanmar,
Laos and
Thailand
converge, is also known as the gateway to Myanmar, Laos and
Southern
China.
Chiang Rai,
which was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, was the first
capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom of a million rice
fields), which was later conquered by Burma. It was not until
1786 that Chiang Rai became a Thai territory and was proclaimed
a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.